Tania Candiani (b. 1974) is a Mexican artist whose practice explores the expanded idea of translation through visual, sound, textual, and symbolic languages, focusing on the politics of listening to deepen understanding of the natural world.
Research is central to her work, which is site-specific and often draws on local narratives, oral traditions, and ancestral knowledge, transforming them into forms that bridge disciplines such as music, sculpture, and storytelling. Candiani’s projects are shaped by communal and affective practices, emphasizing collaboration and shared rituals.
By exploring the connections between craft, labor, and the histories of techniques and technologies, her work fosters a dialogue between sound, environment, and the interconnected web of life, with a subtle grounding in feminist ethics of care and community.
The forces that sustain life above and below ground are often invisible to the naked eye. Candiani’s work in Helsinki Biennial focuses on these hidden networks—specifically, the underground connections within forests and the interdependencies that sustain ecosystems.
Thank you to HIAP Helsinki International Artist Programme.
Artwork location: Vallisaari Island
Photo: Marcela Moreno